Snow removal equipment



Oct. 29, 1963 LA ROY A. WILSON 3,108,586

SNOW REMOVAL EQUIPMENT Filed Dec. 14. 1961 INVENTOR. LA ROY A. WILSON ATTYS 45% E #W United States Patent 3,108,586 SNUW REMGVAL EQUIPMENT La Roy A. Wilson, 7529 Maple Ave, Apt. #716, Tairoma Park 12, Md. Filed Dec. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 159,470 6 Claims. or. 126-2712) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), see. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to the removal of snow firom sidewalks, streets, airports, parking areas or the like and more particularly to apparatus for removing snow which utilizes heated air to melt the snow so that it will run off and leave a clean road or sidewalk surface.

Previous methods of snow removal utilized blade-type plows or rotary plows, chemical applications, or manual labor and dump trucks. These methods, however, have numerous disadvantages. Plows do not remove all snow down to the road or sidewalk surface and this method is too time consuming for the efiioient removal of snow. The application of chemicals removes the snow very slowly and causes untold damage to vehicles operated over the area after the chemicals are used. Manual labor and dump trucks are obviously impractical for the reason that this method is too slow and too expensive.

It is thererore an object of this invention to provide new and improved apparatus of the character described.

It is another object to provide snow removal apparatus in which a continuous flow :of heated air is utilized to efficiently melt the snow.

It is a further object to provide snow removal apparatus of the character described which is mobile, compact and safe to use.

It is a specific object to provide in this type of snow removal apparatus blower means to circulate the air through its path of circulation, driving means for the blower mean-s, means to direct the circulation of air to heating means, and means for regulating and directing the flow of hot air irom the heating means to the snow to be melted.

It is a further specific object to provide a gasoline engine as the [driving means for the blower means, and a gas burner as the heating means which may be easily dismantled for cleaning or replacement of parts.

It is a still further specific object to mount the heating means and the means for regulating the flow of heated air in such a manner that they may be moved universally to be adaptable to any type of snow accumulation.

Other objects and various further features of novelty and invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which shows, for illustrative purposes only, a preferred form of the invention and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the entire snow removal apparatus in its compact form; a

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the heater housing and heating tube used in the snow removal apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an end view of the heater housing at the end opposite to that at which the gas supply for the heater is connected.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the reference character it designates a supporting platform for the snow removal apparatus which is mounted on four wheels '11. A gasoline engine 12 is mounted on the platform and 11%,585 Patented Got. 29, 19693 ice drives an air compressor or blower 13 which is connected to a steel heater housing 14 by a flexible tube 15. One end of the flexible tube 15 is attached to a steel tube 16 which has a curved flange 17 that is welded or attached by suitable means to the heater housing 14. A U-shape-d tubular member 18 is rigidly mounted on the supporting platform 10 and a propane or other combustible gas supply tank 19 is removably mounted on the tubular member 18 by brackets 20. A second tubular member 21 is pivotally mounted on the first tubular member 18, and a third tubular member 22 is pivotally mounted on the second tubular member 21. Clamps 23 are mounted on the supporting platform 10* and are adapted to receive the third tubular member 22 for the purpose of retaining the tubular members 21 and 22 in a collapsed position. Any suitable means (such as bolts or clamps) may be provided for retaining the tubular members in an upright substantially vertically aligned position which is necessary when the snow removal apparatus is to be used and pushed manually.

The heater housing 14 is mounted on the supporting platform 10 by ball and socket universal joints 24', each of which comprises one clamping member 25 rigidly mounted to the supporting platform It) and a second clamping member 26 attached to the first clamping member 25 by a bolt and wing nut connection 27. Received within the clamping members 25 and 26' is a ball member 28 that is rigidly mounted on a rod 29 which is in turn rigidly mounted on the heater housing 14. A handle 30 is also rigidly mounted on the heater housing 14 to allow for easy movement of the heater housing. It is noted that with this mounting of the heater housing on the supporting platform 19, the housing may be disposed at numerous heights from the road or sidewalk surface and at various angular positions between horizontal and vertical.

As shown in FIGS. 2 through 4, an inwardly extending flange portion 31 is provided at one end of the heater housing 14 and is adapted to retm'n an end plate 33 having an axially extending flange 34 in contact with the portion 31. An end plate 3-2 having an axial flange 58 is slidably mounted within the housing 14- at the other end thereof. A ceramic heating tube 35 is mounted within the housing 14 and consists of two identical halves 36 and 37. Ihe ceramic material to be used should be suitable to air temperatures of 20 F.il0 outside and 3,400 F.i200 inside. Each of the halves 36 and 37 is provided with convolutions 38 on its outer surface and holes 39 having meta-l inserts 40 at each end. Holes 41 are provided in each of the end plates 32 and 33 and cor-respond in number and location to the holes 39 in each of the heating tube halves 36 and 37. The heating tube halves 36 and 37 are mounted between the end plates 32 and 33 by bolts 42 which thread into the metal inserts 40.

Two rails or tracks 59 are formed integral with or rigidly attached to the interior of the housing 14 and each of the end plates 32 and 33 has grooves at to accommodate the rails 59, thereby preventing rotational movement of the end plates. Radially extending end portions 61 are provided on each of the heating tube halves 36 and 37 and each of these end portions has grooves 62 to accommodate the rails 59. Therefore, the entire heating tube and end plate assembly may be slidably removed from one end of the heater housing for the purpose of igniting the mixturein the heating tube or for the replacement of parts. The heating tube and end plate assembly may be retained within the housing 14 by a locking pin 63 which normally extends through holes in the housing and in the end plate flange 58. The pin 63 may be removed from the holes by depressing the handle 64 against the force of the spring 65. oles 44 are provided in each of the heating tube halves for the purpose of admitting small amounts of air to the interior of the heating tube and to allow some of the heat from the combustible mixture within the heating tube to be applied directly to the air surrounding the heating tube. The holes 44 have their longitudinal axes located at approximately 45 angles with respect to the axis of heating tube 35 so that air being admitted within the heater housing 14 will not flow directly into the heating tube in large amounts, and will not impinge in a manner which would greatly distort the flame in the tube 35. A hole 66 is provided in the heating tube half 36 to allow any suitable igniting means to be inserted in the tube 35 when it is withdrawn from the housing 14.

A triple-tubed fixture 45 is attached to the steel tube 16 for the purpose of directing the flow of air into the heater housing 14 in all directions to insure uniform heating of the air within the housing. The housing is provided with an axial opening 56 in the bottom portion thereof to allow the escape of heated air. A flange 46 is provided adjacent the opening 56 and cooperates with a flange 47 on the curved plate 48 which is slidably mounted on the housing 14. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, slots 49 are provided in the curved plate 48 and holes are located in the housing adjacent the slots 49. Bolt and wing nut connectons b are provided to lock the curved plate in any desired position. Therefore, the two flanges 46 and 47 form a variable nozzle for the axial opening 56 the size of which may be varied by the shifting of the curved plates 48 on the heater housing 14, with the result that the flow of heated air from the heater housing 14 may be controlled and directed in a simple and eflicient manner.

The end plate 32 has an enlarged portion 51 having a center hole 52 and a number of surrounding air orifices 53. The hose 54 from the propane supply tank 19 is attached to the enlarged portion 51 and communicates with the center hole 52. The air holes 53 are provided to allow a mixing of air with the propane as it enters the interior of the ceramic heating tube 35.

In operation, when the locking pin 63 is removed from the holes in the housing 14 and the flange 58, the entire end plate and heating tube assembly may be withdrawn from the housing 14 and until the ignition hole 66 is exposed. The valve 57 is then opened slightly to allow a small amount of combustible gas to enter the heating tube 35. Igniting means then is inserted through the hole 66 to ignite the gas within the tube 35 after which the entire assembly is again fully inserted within the housing 14 and retained therein by the locking pin 63. The valve 57 is then opened further for the desired gas supply, and the gasoline engine 12 is started to drive the air blower 13 to force air through the flexible tube 15 and into the heater housing 14. The air will be evenly distributed around the heating tube 35 by the triple-tubed fixture 45. With this apparatus, a temperature of approximately 3,400 F. may be obtained within the heating tube 35, and the resulting temperature of the air leaving the nozzle opening of the housing 14 may be regulated from 250 to 790 F. by varying the blower speed or the supply of gas. Since the combustion of the heating agent is completely enclosed by the ceramic heating tube 35, the end plates 32 and 33 and the heater housing 14, this snow removal apparatus is safe to use.

Many modifications may be made in the construction and operation of this invention; for example, a small economical gas turbine-driven compressor may be used instead of the gasoline engine-driven compressor described herein; a cable and hoist or similar type apparatus may be used to elevate the heater and heater housing instead of the friction type universal joints shown herein; a simple diverging type fixture or batfie may be used to distribute the air even y around the heating tube instead of the 4 triple-tubed fixture shown; and various hydrocarbons besides propane may be used as the heating agent for the air.

The snow removing apparatus according to this invention, as shown for the purpose of illustration, is made of relativey small size suitable for hand propulsion and thus is well adapted for removing snow from sidewalks, other foot ways, and from garage driveways. It will be understood, however, that the principles of this invention may be embodied in large size power propelled apparatus suitable for removing snow from roads, parking lots, airports, and the like.

While the invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred form shown, other modifications of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Apparatus for the removal of snow comprising mobile supporting means, air blower means mounted on said supporting means, means for driving said blower means, air heating means adjustably mounted on said supporting means comprising a housing having an inwardly protruding flange at one end thereof, an end plate mounted within said housing and adapted to seat against said flange, a second end plate mounted within said housing at the other end thereof, a heating tube located within said housing and attached to said end plates, a portion on one of said end plates having a central orifice and a plurality of smaller air orifices surrounding said central orifice, fuel supply means attached to said portion and communicating with said central orifice, means for connecting said blower means to said heating means, and adjustable nozzle means for directing heated air from said heating means toward the snow to be removed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing has guide rails mounted thereon and said end plates and heating tube have grooves therein to receive said rails, whereby said end plates and said heating tube are slidably mounted within said housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said heating tube comprises two identical halves of ceramic material having eonvolutions on the outer surfaces thereof, a plurality of small air holes therethrough, and an aperture through which the fuel may be ignited.

4. Apparatus for melting snow comprising mobile supporting means, an air compressor mounted on said supporting means, a gasoline engine connected to said air compressor, a hollow heater housing mounted on said supporting means by universal joint connections, a flexible air tube having one end attached to said compressor and having at the other end thereof a steel tube rigidly attached to said housing and communicating with the interior of said housing, end plates mounted within said housing and seated at the ends thereof, a ceramic heating tube located within said housing and attached to said end plates, said heating tube having a central orifice therein and one of said end plates having a plurality of air orifices therein, a fuel supply tank mounted on said supporting means and having a supply tube attached to said one end plate and in communication with said central orifice, a longitudinal opening in said housing, and means for regulating the size of said opening to control the flow of heated air therethrough.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for regulating the size of said housing opening comprises a curved plate slidably mounted on said housing and adapted to be retained in a selected position.

6. Apparatus for the removal of snow comprising mobile supporting means, air blower means mounted on said supporting means, means for driving said blower means, air heating means adjustably mounted on said supporting means including a housing having a continuous 5 opening along one side thereof; a pair of end plates mounted at separate ends of said housing, a heating tube of ceramic material located Within said housing and attached to said end plates for defining a combustion chamber within said housing, said heating tube having a plurality of holes therein for permitting heated air to flow into said housing, means for oonnecting said blower means to said heating means for forcing hot air out of said opening; shielding means adjustably mounted contiguous with said housing and extending the length of said housing and said opening therein whereby the area of said opening is determined by adjusting said shielding means for cont-rolling the direction and intensity of said hot air emanating from said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS McCormick Feb. 13, Wright May 2, Greenfield Nov. 11, Woolery a- Sept. 5, McMenamy June 12, Wilson Sept. 4, Hoffman Ma. 25, Coggin -1 Sept. 16, Johnson et a1 Dec. 20, West Dec. 19, Corey June 19, 

1. APPARATUS FOR THE REMOVAL OF SNOW COMPRISING MOBILE SUPPORTING MEANS, AIR BLOWER MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORTING MEANS, MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID BLOWER MEANS, AIR HEATING MEANS ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORTING MEANS COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING AN INWARDLY PROTRUDING FLANGE AT ONE END THEREOF, AN END PLATE MOUNTED WITHIN SAID HOUSING AND ADAPTED TO SEAT AGAINST SAID FLANGE, A SECOND END PLATE MOUNTED WITHIN SAID HOUSING AT THE OTHER END THEREOF, A HEATING TUBE LOCATED WITHIN SAID HOUSING AND ATTACHED TO SAID END PLATES, A PORTION ON ONE OF SAID END PLATES HAVING A CENTRAL ORIFICE AND A PLURALITY OF SMALLER AIR ORIFICES SURROUNDING SAID CENTRAL ORIFICE, FUEL SUPPLY MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID PORTION AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CENTRAL ORIFICE, MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID BLOWER MEANS TO SAID HEATING MEANS, AND ADJUSTABLE NOZZLE MEANS FOR DIRECTING HEATED AIR FROM SAID HEATING MEANS TOWARD THE SNOW TO BE REMOVED. 